Meeting papers

Revenue Statement - 2025/26


2.5         Outstanding Rates and Charges
            Interest Charges
Interest will be applied to all overdue rates or charges pursuant to sections 132 and 133 of the
Regulation. The interest will be compound interest, calculated on daily rests. For a day on or after 1
July 2025 the interest rate will be 12.12% per annum. (Refer to section 2.6.2 concerning how that
interest rate was set).

            Arrangements to Pay
Arrangements pursuant to section 129 of the Regulation, for payment by instalments, will be allowed
for properties where there are no overdue rates and charges from previous rating periods and the
ratepayer agrees with Council that the outstanding rates or charges will be paid by the end of the
current billing period.
An application for an instalment payment arrangement should be received by Council prior to due
date of July 2025 or January 2026 levy, but, at Council’s discretion, an arrangement to pay may be
allowed if Council receives the ratepayer request after one of those dates and is satisfied that:
(1)   the ratepayer did not receive the rate notice when issued and first became aware of unpaid
      rates and charges upon receiving a reminder notice; or
(2)   another circumstance prevented the ratepayer from making a timely application for an
      arrangement to pay.
No discount will be allowed for rates and charges that are the subject of an instalment arrangement.
Repayments will be calculated as at the time of applying for an arrangement and will not incur interest
charges.
Where a ratepayer defaults on an arrangement to pay, the arrangement will be cancelled, and
interest will be charged on the overdue rates and charges from the date of default. Additionally,
Council will not enter any further arrangements during the rating period covered by the initial
arrangement request.

2.6         Deferment of General Rates
Chapter 4, part 10 of the Regulation allows Council to grant a rating concession to certain ratepayers
by entering an agreement to defer payment of the rates and charges.
Pursuant to sections 120(1)(a), 121(b), and 122(1)(b) of the Regulation, Council may allow eligible
pensioners to enter an agreement to defer the payment of rates.

            Deferments for Pensioners
To assist eligible pensioners who have experienced large increases in the rateable value of their
property as determined by the Department of Resources, or have experienced financial hardship,
Council will allow deferment of up to 50% of the general rate. The deferred rates will accumulate as
a debt against the property until it is sold or until the death of the ratepayer.
The deferment of general rates applies only to rates payable with respect to land included in
Differential General Rates Categories 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 22, 23, and 25 to 30.
To be eligible to defer up to 50% of the general rate the applicant must:
(1)   own and occupy the property; and
(2)   have no overdue rates and charges on the property; and
(3)   the/an occupier must hold:
      (a)     a Pension Concession Card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs;
              or
      (b)     a Repatriation Health (Gold) Card issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs; or


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